Enhancing Milk Market Access and Compliance In Kenya

19 Aug, 2016 | filed under .

Kenya Markets Trust partnered with the Kenya Dairy Board to host a Consultative Workshop on Sustainable Partnerships in formal and informal milk marketing for enhanced market access and compliance. During this workshop, the two organizations signed an agreement to work together to streamline milk-marketing channels in the country.

Registrations at the KMT-KDB workshop on formal and informal milk markets in Kenya

Kenya has a large market for milk and milk products, which is served by formal and informal marketing channels. The former controls approximately 30% of the market, which means informal marketing is dominant especially in rural, semi-rural and low middle class estates in urban centers.

While the two marketing channels source their milk from the same pool of dairy farmers, there are significant differences on how the milk is handled and prepared for sale. Quality challenges that arise at the farm level may therefore be common for the two channels. However, the quality and safety of the milk at the market end is normally very different.

Informal milk marketing, despite playing a key role in accessing milk to a large number of consumers, is constrained by several challenges, the most significant being the threat on consumer safety. This threat arises from the poor milk handling practices common among the milk traders, which include:

Poor hygiene

Adulteration

Use of non-food grade containers and public transportation systems in delivering milk to the point of sale

Transporting milk over long distances under conditions adverse to quality e.g. the milk is not under refrigeration

The policy instruments in the Kenyan dairy industry including the draft national dairy policy (2013) and National Dairy Master Plan (2010) recognize the important role of milk traders as a link between producers and consumers. However, due to the compliance challenges faced by the traders, various interventions are proposed to transform the channel including capacity building and enhancing access to appropriate and affordable technologies.

The workshop started the relevant consultations amongst stakeholders on how to develop market linkages between milk processors and traders in the interest of consumer safety and enhanced access for quality and safe milk products.

KMT and KDB officials append signatures on partnership agreement documents. The two organisations will work together to for sustainable largescale change in Kenya’s Dairy Sector

The collaboration and cooperation between KDB and KMT is meant to promote the development of the Kenyan dairy industry. The two organizations look to work together in:

Improving the policy and regulatory framework in the Kenyan dairy industry

Promoting market access for Kenyan milk and milk products

Promoting compliance to dairy standards and regulations

Promoting transformation of the informal milk marketing channel

To generate dairy market data and information for planning and decision making by stakeholders

Building the capacity of primary milk dealers on milk quality and safety

KDB is a regulatory body in the Kenyan dairy industry established by an Act of Parliament, the Dairy industry Act Cap 336. In addition, the Board undertakes developmental and promotional roles to promote the development of the Kenya dairy industry. The primary role of the Board is to ensure quality and safety of milk and milk products for the local and export markets. The processes, technologies, equipment, procedures, standards and practices in the entire value chain are therefore given regulatory focus as they impact on the quality and safety of the final product.